Vanity box



J. F. BABBITT April 22, v1930.

VANITY BOX Filed Aug. 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I uenivr Job I! Babb/iii,

' A-lly.

J. F. BABBITT April 22, 1930.

VANITY BOX Filed Aug. 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2X Inzzeni'or .Zohn 1 Babfiiit,

Patented Apr. 22, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN I. BABBITT, OF LOUISVILIiE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN V. PILCHEB, OF

, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY VANITY BOX Application filed August 20, 1928. Serial No. 300,790.

My said invention aims to provide a vanity case or compact which will be simple and economical of construction and capable of being easily and rapidly manufactured.

A further object is to provide such an article having a non-metallic covering, the construction being such that the covering may be easily applied to certain of the case parts before assembly, and the parts thereafter assembled to form the complete article.

Another object is to provide a simple form of frame forming the side and end walls of the box which can be readily and economically manufactured of sheet metal and which will be strong and durable and yet free from soldered joints.

The invention further aims to provide an improved arrangement of ,spring. catch in connection with such a frame for holding the lid shut, and also improved means for securing a mirror to the cover member.

With these and other objects in view, the invention includes the novel features of construction and arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described, what I consider as my invention being defined by the claims appended hereto..

What is at present considered the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan'view of the blank for forming the front and end walls of the case orbox. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same blank after having been stamped or bent to shape to formthe front and end walls and prior to assembly.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank for form ing the back wallof the case or box.

Fig. 4. is a perspective view of the same blank after the shaping operation and prior to assembly with the article of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bottom member.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of thetop or cover member.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the blank for forming the cover frame.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the same after shaping.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showin the bottom and cover plates applied to the ox covering sheet.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the two trays.

Fi n 11 is a perspective view of the spacer mem er.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the spring catch.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the complete case or box, with the cover swung back.

Fig. 14 is a cross section of the completed case with the cover closed, and

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional detail through the catch and associated parts.

My. invention will be more clearly understood by describing it and the various parts approxlmately in the-order of manufacture and assembly.

In proceeding to manufacture and assemble the parts forming the box or case, I stamp out of sheet metal a blank such as shown in This side is closed or finished by a backwall member formed from a blank 3 such as shown in Fig. 3, havin an extension 3 adapted to be overlappe by the end wall members 2.

The end wall members are provided with integral tongue extensions 2 which, when the ends of the side walls and back wall are juxtaposed, are adapted to be bent to overlap the back wall and be inserted through slots 3 in said back wall and clenched over to form a secure connection between the back and end walls, as shown in Fig. 13.

The marginal portion 1 of the front wall part, and the portions 2 of the end wall parts opposite or upper edge is provided with a marginal portion 1 which is folded over and crimped down upon the inside face to form a finished edge, and the side members 2 are likewise provided with folded over portions forining finished or rounded top edges (Figs. 13 and 14). The ortion 1 is, however, provided with a furt er extension 1 which in the completed box, extends first inwardly at right angles to the box wall and then downwardly parallel thereto into overlapping relation to the portions l l to form a chamher for receiving the spring S of a spring catch, the catch part S of which extends through a cut away portionor opening in the horizontal flange portion, said spring catch being shown in detail in Fig. 11 and in place in the box in Fig. 15.

The back wall member 3 has at its lower edge a flange portion 3? similar to the portions 2 and at its upper edge projecting portions 3 designed to be bent to form hinge pintle eyes to cooperate with corresponding pintle eyes 5 ofthe cover member 5 hereinafter more particularly described.

Cooperating with the lower edges of the I members 1, 2, and 3 is a bottom 6 (Fig. 5),

formed of plain sheet metal having two sets of tongues 6 to cooperate with the flanges 2 of the end walls and a single tongue 6 to cooperatewith the flange part 1 of the front wall.

These tongues are formed by appropriately slitting the metal and bending up the slitted portions, andserve to firmly hold the bottom to the wall portions by being clenched over or forced down upon the flange portions of the walls hereinbefore described.

A cover frame 5 (Figs. 7 and 8), is likewise stamped from a single piece of sheet metal and is provided with an open center for the display of a mirror 4; .(Fig. 13), which is 1 counter sunk therein (the counter sink being form'ed by I appropriate stamping). Said'memberis provided with backwardly or outwardly turned flange extensions 5 on its end portions and similarly turned flange portion's 5 on its front or free edge, said flanges being turnedinfward to form channels which are engaged by the tongues 7* and 7 of the cover member 7 formed similarly to the tongues of the bottom hereinbefore described. Thisattachment of the cover member 7 to the cover frame 5 securely holds the mirror in position without other fastening means.

I find it desirable to provide a non-metallic covering 0 (preferably leather or imitation leather) for the cover members and back wall, which, coupled with the factthat the bottom and cover members are of a size to project beyond the box walls, gives the article the appearance of alittle leatherbound book, which, as has long been known,'aifords a pleasing appearance in articles ofthis and similar natures.

My method of and means for attaching the cover members enables me to apply such covering to the cover members before the latter are secured tothe box and cover frames which greatly expedites manufacture and reduces cost.

To this end, a sheet of cover material C, cut

to the required size is laid out flatjand the cover and bottom plate members are laid thereon, as shown inFig. 9, with the margins of the covering material projecting beyond the edges of the plates, a suitable adhesive having been applied to the covering material. referably padding'sheets c are placed between the covering material and the bottom andcover plates (Figs. 14 and 15).

Thereafter, the projecting margins of the covering material are folded over and pressed down upon the inside faces of the plates and caused by such pressure to firmly adhere thereto. The covered plates can then bereadily applied to the box and cover frames by interengaging the tongues and flanges as hereinbefore described.

The cover frame has an inwardly turned integral tongue 5 provided with an eye (Fig. 8) adapted to be engaged by the spring catch hereinbefore described. This spring catch is very economically made and assembled by providing a plain leaf spring S, of the sinuous form or shape shown in Fig. 12 and a sepa rate push piece S stamped up from sheet metal and having a central relatively thin rounded portion adapted to project through the opening in the front wall as shown in Figs. 13 and 15 and having its rear portion lying between the rear face of said front wall and the spring and pressed normally outward by the spring. The push piece has an upwardly extending part 8 provided with a nib or projection 8 adapted to engage the eye at of the cover projection 5.

I use in connection with my compact box, two trays 8 and 9 for cosmetics.

These'are adapted to be spring pressed and held in position by nibs or projections 9 on the box frame, and 9 on the back member 3 thereof, and they are spaced apart and further held in position by a spacer piece 10 of inverted channel shape in cross section, having integral tongues 10" formed by slitting the metal, which project over the juxtaposed edges of the pans or trays, to serve as puff retainers.

While I have illustrated and described my invention as embodied in a vanity box or case, it will be evident that it is applicable to boxes for a large variety of uses and I do not restrict myself to the use thus specifically referred to.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A rectangular box for the purpose described comprising a box body, a frame member hinged thereto comprising a single piece of sheet metal having an open center, the edges forming said open center being displaced inwardly from the plane of the frame toward said box body, outer edges of said v frame being turned back over the outer face thereof, a cover plate having tongues engaging said turned back edges, and a mirror having its edges held in the spaces formed between said offset edges and the cover plate.

2. In a box of the character described, a wall forming frame of sheet metal bent to form a front and end wall, a back wall member having openings adjacent its ends, and having angular end extensions lying juxtaposed to the inner faces of said end walls, said end walls having tongue extensions overlying the outer face of said. back wall, the ends of said tongues being inserted through said slits and clenchednver on the inside of said wall.

3. A box according to claim 2 in which the top edges of the end walls are folded down over the upper edges of the extensions of the back wall.

4. A box according to claim 2 in which the front wall is provided with an aperture,amarginal portion folded down on the inside and having a portion spaced from said front wall, a leaf spring located in the space formed thereby, acatch member confined between said spring and front wall and having a cover engaging part projecting through an opening in said folded over portion, and a push piece for said catch projecting through said opening.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

JOHN F. BABBITT. 

